BEFORE & AFTER THE COLLAPSE

Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium is a new multi-use stadium in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The construction began in May 2006 and was completed last year. The RM292 million stadium was currently used mostly for football matches and can hold up to 50,000 people. It is the biggest stadium in the East Coast region of Peninsular Malaysia. The stadium was officially opened in 2008 and host the 2008 Sukma Games. It is the first stadium in Asia to used a space frame structure where the 134meters roof is not supported by any columns.

At 9.40am, 2nd of June 2009, sixty percent of the roof structure collapsed. While no one was injured and a few cars and motorcycles were damaged. The damage was estimated at RM35million. The worse damage was at the east wing of the stadium. The CIBD (Construction and Industrial Development Board) of the Works Ministry has been tasked to form an investigation team with certified architects to probe why this happened.

Thank God that it didn't happen while a sports game was going on. As for me it is not a surprise. My brother used to ask me about the flatten shape at the centre of the curvilinear roof form when we were there enjoying ourselves at the bowling alley 48 hours before the collapse. My answer is simple. It's the failure of the roof structure. Well, I'm not an engineer but a lay man can tell you that simple answer. Can you imagine the number of the casualties that would've caused. The Government must take this matter very seriously. It must bring the culprits to book. This ain't mere oversight. It is a criminal negligence. And, one wonders how many other stadiums structure are waiting to collapse. In Teluk Intan, parts of the stadium roof collaped a couple of years back killing one, and none is yet to face the music. It is standard knowledge now that when construction is concerned, everyone involve in the project tends to cut corners and thus increase their profits? I doubt the building was actually "to-spec" but the time it was built by contractors, sub-contractors, building inspectors et al have probably already scaled back to much the quality of the structure was compromised.

What do these people care? Then again, the authorities ain't so hot either. I was given the opportunity by HIM to be there before and after it collapse. I manage to get a few shots of the stadium before and after and would like to share it with all of you. Please click photo to see the rest in this set. My question? Who to blame???